This online* course provides training in the fundamental skills of business administration, which enables graduates to play an active role in the development and management of business enterprises. Emphasis is placed on both individual and group assignments, with a focus on developing both applied skills and key interpersonal skills.

For engineering graduates, the course is approved as part of Engineers Ireland’s Registered Training Providers Programme.

*While this course is delivered fully online, students are required to attend campus for accountancy examinations. Students residing overseas should contact the Course Administrator regarding exam arrangements in advance of applying for the course.

This course is delivered through a combination of:

• Live online lectures/tutorials
• Recorded lectures
• Online Learning Resources
• Reading material and assignments
• Online discussions

Module Lists

Year 1

• Business Information Systems
• Principles of Microeconomics
• Introduction to Financial Accounting
• Management: Enterprise and Society
• Introduction to Management Accounting
• Leading and Managing People

Year 2

• Introduction to Marketing
• Marketing Management

And select 4 modules from the following options

• Organisational Psychology and Analysis
• Business Law I
• Management of Organisational Change
• Applied Microeconomics for Business
• Business Intelligence and Analytics
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Negotiation Skills 
• Management Skills
• Implementing Digital Innovation
• Cases in Marketing Strategy

*The syllabus is subject to change on a cyclical basis. 

Curriculum Information

This course provides a pathway for graduates to progress to level 9 postgraduate studies in business.

Graduates can progress in a diverse range of industries, such as marketing, financial services, information systems and human resources.

Graduates can pursue further postgraduate study at Master’s level, such as the MSc Marketing, MSc Industrial Relations, HR Management courses. Full list of business postgraduate courses available here.

Students are required to participate in online discussions and activities throughout the year. All modules are individually assessed. Typically, assessments consist of assignments and end-of-year/end-of-semester examinations. Accountancy exams are held on campus*. Assessments may include: online activities, essays, written reports, presentations, individual and group projects. Written examinations are required in a limited number of numeracy modules (which take place at the University of Galway).

*Students residing overseas should contact the Course Administrator regarding exam arrangements in advance of applying for the course.

If you do not meet the standard entry criteria for this course, you may gain entry through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy. Applicants may also be able to earn module exemptions based on their prior learning. Find out more here.

Applicants require a Level 8 honours degree of H2.2 standard or above. This course is open to graduates of any discipline who wish to acquire a grounding in business practices. Applicants are expected to possess a good level of computer literacy.  

Entry requirements for part-time students can be found here (i.e. age, English language requirements etc.).

Applications are made online via the University of Galway Applications System. This course is listed under Adult Learning Undergraduate\Postgraduate, CPD, Micro-credentials & Summer School Applications.

Fees for Academic Year 2026/27

There are several funding opportunites available for this course:

Adult Learning Tuition Scholarship
A fee scholarship of up to 30% may be available for students who wish to upskill for the purposes of re-employment. For more information, download the 2025_26 Fees Scholarship Form.

Skillnet Funding
This course has been approved by both Next Level Skillnet and Galway Executive Skillnet for a fees subsidy of up to 40% for students whose company is a member of their networks. For more information, contact:
Next Level Skillnet – Sue Davies at: sue@nextlevel.ie
Galway Executive Skillnet – Eamonn Molloy at: info@galwayexecutiveskillnet.com

Course Administrator
Email: ptbusiness@universityofgalway.ie